[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.09,0:00:02.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have a confession to make.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.61,0:00:09.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I’ve tried, many times, to play games like\NTotal War, Crusader Kings, and Endless Space.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.82,0:00:14.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've bought them, downloaded them, made time\Nin my calendar for them.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.82,0:00:17.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And yet - the same thing always happens.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.25,0:00:22.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I get about 20 minutes into the tutorial,\Nand I start to zone out.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.07,0:00:24.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My eyes glaze over, and my mind drifts.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.61,0:00:28.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I start to think about all the things I could\Nbe doing that are more fun than this.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.63,0:00:31.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like filing my taxes or watching paint dry.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.81,0:00:36.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is a shame - because for the most\Npart, video game tutorials are actually pretty
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.71,0:00:37.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,good these days.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.79,0:00:40.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They’re interwoven into the world and narrative.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.18,0:00:42.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They’re well paced so as not to get boring.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.57,0:00:46.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they’re cleverly designed to be subtle\Nand unobtrusive.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.05,0:00:48.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even invisible at times.\N*Impact*
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.38,0:00:53.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for certain genres like RTS, grand strategy,\Nand city builders - let’s just call them
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.90,0:00:55.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“complex games” for this video.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.92,0:01:01.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For these complex games, the learning experience\Ncan be pretty miserable - and at their worst,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.47,0:01:06.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these tutorials can stop people from ever\Ngetting to the actual fun part of the game.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.63,0:01:10.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I wanted to find out if there were ways\Nto improve this experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.90,0:01:15.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What techniques can we take from other genres\N- in order to make complex games easier to
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.23,0:01:17.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,teach and easier to learn?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.51,0:01:18.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.51,0:01:25.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm Mark Brown, and this is Game Maker's Toolkit.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.10,0:01:30.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we look at less complex games, I think\Nthe biggest evolution has been a realisation
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.30,0:01:35.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the tutorial doesn’t have to be something\Nyou do all in one go, before you get to play
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.31,0:01:36.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the game properly.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.43,0:01:42.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, it can be split up and sprinkled\Nthroughout the entire experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.24,0:01:45.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this approach has many advantages.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.37,0:01:51.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The big one is that, according to Plants vs\NZombies designer George Fan - a player's willingness
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.10,0:01:55.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to learn grows along with their level of investment.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.12,0:01:59.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when games dump a load of tutorials on\Nyou at the start - that often exceeds your
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.98,0:02:01.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,willingness to learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.44,0:02:05.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By delaying these lessons, the game can wait\Nuntil you're more invested.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.81,0:02:10.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another advantage is that you get to play\Nthe “real game” almost immediately, instead
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.21,0:02:13.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of having to sit through something that can\Nfeel boring and academic.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.88,0:02:18.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in fact, if each step of the tutorial\Nis small enough - you can sometimes teach
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.40,0:02:21.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,players without having a tutorial at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.28,0:02:26.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Portal, for example, all of the early puzzle\Nchambers are actually inferring a small piece
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.55,0:02:29.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of information about how the game works.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.54,0:02:33.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as far as the player is concerned, they're\Njust playing the game.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.80,0:02:38.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the third benefit is that by delaying\Nthese tutorials, they can deliver messages
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.51,0:02:40.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when it's actually relevant.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.39,0:02:45.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The game can pop up the crafting tutorial\Nwhen you first find a crafting table - instead
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.61,0:02:49.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of telling you this at the start and hoping\Nyou’ll have remembered by the time you finally
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.60,0:02:51.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,get to make something.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.14,0:02:56.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, complex games are typically still stuck\Nin the old format.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.16,0:03:00.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that means players have to learn before\Nthey're invested, they don't get to actually
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.33,0:03:04.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,play for hours, and they'll learn things that\Nmight not be relevant for ages.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.59,0:03:07.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, look - I can understand why this happens.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.69,0:03:12.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The reason it's possible to delay tutorials\Nin less complex games is that designers can
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.33,0:03:16.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,slowly introduce game mechanics throughout\Nthe course of the adventure.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.36,0:03:20.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can start you with a simple character\Nwith very few abilities - and then slowly
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.26,0:03:25.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,increase complexity as you find new upgrades,\Nunlock new skills, recruit new party members,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.68,0:03:26.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so on.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.87,0:03:30.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But complex games typically need to begin\Nwith everything turned on.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.89,0:03:35.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As every system talks to each other - everything\Nneeds to be online from the very beginning.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.75,0:03:36.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.97,0:03:41.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bruce Shelley, who worked with Sid Meier on\Nthe earliest Civilization games, coined the
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.36,0:03:44.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,phrase “inverted pyramid of decision making”.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.78,0:03:49.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The idea is that when you start Civilization,\Nyou basically have one decision to make on
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.17,0:03:52.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your first turn: where should you settle your\Ncity?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.25,0:03:55.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one decision on your next turn: what should\Nyou build there?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.70,0:03:58.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But now you have two decisions to make.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.09,0:04:01.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What should you do with your new unit, and\Nwhat should your city build now?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.49,0:04:05.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Soon after, those decisions start to balloon\N- and by the end of the game you're making
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.81,0:04:11.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dozens of decisions per turn as you juggle\Nhundreds of units, cities, enemies, allies,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.14,0:04:12.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and resources.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.35,0:04:16.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The point being: over the course of a game\Nof Civilization, the complexity has organically
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.99,0:04:22.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,grown from a single settler in a foggy map\N- to a massive empire of competing nations.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.55,0:04:28.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so by virtue of its slow increase in complexity,\NCiv is well placed to teach you its systems,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.52,0:04:30.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bit by bit, as you discover them.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.46,0:04:35.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An example of this in practice is the outstanding\Ncity builder Frostpunk.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.03,0:04:39.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this game you begin with one job: gathering\Nresources by hand.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.15,0:04:42.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so the game gives you a quick tutorial\Nabout that.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.17,0:04:46.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then you turn on the generator… and the\Ngame gives you a tutorial about that.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.27,0:04:51.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This carries on for the entire campaign, with\Nsmall tutorials for every major mechanic - but
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.77,0:04:55.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all the way you're actually playing the game\Nfor yourself.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.83,0:04:58.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another avenue for this is the user interface.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.74,0:05:04.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From my own experience, at least, a complex\NUI can be one of the most overwhelming things
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.03,0:05:05.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to a new player.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.03,0:05:11.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But how many of these buttons, bars, windows,\Nand panels need to be there on the first turn?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.14,0:05:12.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So take a look at Mini Metro.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.83,0:05:17.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At the beginning, there's almost no interface\Nat all, meaning all you need to worry about
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.62,0:05:19.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is connecting up train stations.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.65,0:05:23.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's only when you start playing that more\Ninformation slowly appears - like the train
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.92,0:05:27.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,line menu, the clock, and the passenger counter.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.25,0:05:30.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another example can be found in Animal Crossing:\NNew Horizons.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.60,0:05:35.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The tool wheel is a helpful, time-saving pinch\Nof UI design - but it could be difficult to
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.89,0:05:40.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,introduce players to two different types of\Ninventory, at the start of the game.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.66,0:05:46.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, instead, you have to save up and buy the\Ntool wheel from the shop - meaning the player
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.05,0:05:50.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gets to set the pace in terms of how complex\Nthe game's UI is.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.19,0:05:55.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This does happen in some complex games - the\NUI in Total War: Troy expands as you play,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.82,0:06:01.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for example - but I'd love to see designers\Nget even more aggressive with this technique.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.39,0:06:06.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is all about how a single campaign\Ncan become more involved over time, allowing
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.50,0:06:10.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the developers to withhold teaching until\Nit’s actually relevant.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.35,0:06:13.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But perhaps there's another way of thinking\Nabout this.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.52,0:06:18.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you want to get started with fighting games\N- definitely a complex genre, but that's outside
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.64,0:06:19.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the scope of this video.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.70,0:06:23.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Uh, if you want to try your hand at fighting\Ngames, you don’t need to know about trip
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.67,0:06:29.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,guards, frame data, happy birthdays, turtling,\Nbivouacing, or pretzel motion in your first
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.38,0:06:30.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fight.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.38,0:06:31.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I only made up one of those.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.76,0:06:35.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All you need to know to get cracking is how\Nto do more than button mash.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.79,0:06:40.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the designers of Mortal Kombat 11 considered\Nthis when making the game's tutorial.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.80,0:06:46.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They broke the player base down into segments\N- like couch players, dabblers, connoisseurs,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.00,0:06:47.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and online PvPers.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.73,0:06:52.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then they figured out what people actually\Nneed to know, depending on what level of player
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.03,0:06:58.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they are - and put those lessons into three\Ntutorial brackets: basics, advanced, and strategy.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.44,0:07:03.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The important part is that these three brackets\Naren't designed to be played all in one go.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.72,0:07:08.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, the tutorial is specifically designed\Nto kick you out of the tutorial menu at the
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.74,0:07:12.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,end of each segment - with the intention that\Nyou will now go and play the game, use what
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.85,0:07:15.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you learned, and enjoy yourself.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.12,0:07:19.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can always come back and learn more when\Nyou feel ready to go to the next level - and
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.19,0:07:21.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,take your game from button mashing to bivouacing.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.80,0:07:23.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh wait that's the one I made up.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.41,0:07:25.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anyway. \NHere's my point.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.00,0:07:30.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most complex games aren't meant to be played\Nthough just once, like a story-driven adventure game.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.54,0:07:34.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're designed to be played over and over\Nagain - like a fighting game.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.86,0:07:39.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so perhaps we can take this format, but\Ninstead of thinking about peppering tutorials
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.46,0:07:45.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,across a single campaign - we can zoom out\Nand put tutorials in between entire playthroughs
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.11,0:07:46.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the campaign.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.11,0:07:49.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I've got a story that could show how this\Nmight work.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.25,0:07:54.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My first game in the Civilization series was\NCivilization V - which was well received,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.88,0:08:00.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but some hardcore fans criticised it for simplifying\Nor outright removing features that had been
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.45,0:08:02.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seen in earlier entries.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.51,0:08:05.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Stuff like espionage and religion.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.05,0:08:10.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it was great for me because it was so\Nmuch easier to learn a game with fewer systems.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.22,0:08:15.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was able to get into the fun relatively\Nquickly, and actually play through a few campaigns.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.04,0:08:20.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Later down the line, Firaxis would eventually\Nreintroduce those forgotten features - and
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.06,0:08:24.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more - in expansion packs like Gods & Kings\Nand Brave New World.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.08,0:08:28.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I found those pretty easy to learn as\Nwell because I already knew the basics from
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.42,0:08:31.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Civ V: I just needed to figure out the new\Nstuff.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.70,0:08:36.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so these expansion packs essentially created\Nthat gradual increase of complexity I've been
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.47,0:08:40.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,talking about - just with entire campaigns\Nin between the tutorials.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.81,0:08:46.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so the same could be done for other games\N- just, not necessarily through selling expansion packs.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.73,0:08:51.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I mean is: instead of an easy mode just\Nbeing the same game but with dumb AI - it
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.53,0:08:55.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could be a stripped back version of the game\Nwith fewer systems to know about.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.40,0:08:59.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then the player can play again, with more\Nsystems turned on.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.35,0:09:03.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And keep going until they get to the full\Nfat version of the game.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.07,0:09:07.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not saying it would be easy to do - and\Nthe game would have to be designed this way
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.22,0:09:08.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the very beginning.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.56,0:09:16.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, if done well, it could be very effective\Nat teaching players as their investment rises.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.06,0:09:17.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But okay.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.19,0:09:21.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe it doesn't make sense for a certain\Ngame to sprinkle the tutorial out across multiple
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.79,0:09:24.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,turns or multiple campaigns.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.20,0:09:27.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps the design just doesn't accommodate\Nthat and it actually does need to frontload
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.89,0:09:30.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the experience with a big load of learning.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.50,0:09:31.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fair enough.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.71,0:09:36.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So - is there some way that we can make this\Nmore interesting, more fun, and more effective
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.42,0:09:41.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at teaching people the basics?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.08,0:09:44.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Something we see in almost every action game\Ntutorial is a bit where the game asks you
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.92,0:09:47.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to perform the action you're being taught.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.04,0:09:50.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like, you can't move on until you punch six\Npeople.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.29,0:09:55.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a simple but effective way of teaching\Nbecause you're asking the player to get hands-on
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.32,0:09:56.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and try for themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.89,0:10:01.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We call this kinaesthetic learning - which\Nis where deep learning occurs via the process
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.20,0:10:03.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of physically doing a task.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.40,0:10:06.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now - complex games do try and do this.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:06.96,0:10:10.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You've probably played games where it walks\Nyou through a sample campaign by pointing
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.73,0:10:17.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,arrows at bits of the UI and asking you to\Nclick here, click there, select this, drag that.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.29,0:10:19.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, well… you're involved! \NYou're doing stuff!
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.86,0:10:20.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Aren't you clever?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.99,0:10:23.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But are they actually that effective?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.56,0:10:24.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not so sure.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.69,0:10:29.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Asher Vollmer, who made the elegant mobile\Npuzzler Threes, says of these arrows - "As
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.46,0:10:32.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,far as the game is concerned; I have advanced.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.37,0:10:35.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as far as my brain is concerned; I've\Nlearned nothing".
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.93,0:10:40.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Part of the problem is that blindly following\Ninstructions just isn’t a very effective
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.09,0:10:41.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,way to learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.19,0:10:46.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, in Asher’s game, he instead turns the\Ntutorial into a series of very small and simple
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.93,0:10:49.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,puzzles for the player to figure out.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.04,0:10:53.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Take, for example, this bit, which is about\Ntelling you how to use the outside walls to
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.49,0:10:55.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,rearrange tiles.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.21,0:10:58.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He could ask players to “swipe to the left\Ntwice”.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.04,0:10:59.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And now "swipe up twice".
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.71,0:11:06.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But he doesn't: he says "Rearrange numbers\Nby pushing 'em into walls" and then "use the walls
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.09,0:11:08.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to add 1 & 2 together".
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.12,0:11:13.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a very simple task, but it's enough for\Nplayers to actually engage their brain and
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.00,0:11:16.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,start to do the sort of thinking that will\Nbe used in the proper game.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.72,0:11:20.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Luckily, some complex games do a really good\Njob of this.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.72,0:11:26.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we look at the first tutorial in Frontier's\NPlanet Zoo, the game starts by walking you
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.28,0:11:29.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through the process of improving an animal’s\Nwelfare.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.41,0:11:31.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NANCY: "Aww, poor dabs!
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.21,0:11:35.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm sure it can't have escaped your attention\Nthat the tigers look a bit miffed.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.78,0:11:39.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's because they aren't too keen on the\Ntype of terrain in their habitat".
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.58,0:11:43.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It’s pretty hand hold-y and straightforward.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.07,0:11:47.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then it asks you to improve the overall\Nwelfare of all the animals in the park.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.96,0:11:51.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NANCY: "All of that should give you a pretty\Ngood understanding of how to make animals
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.84,0:11:56.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,happy, so I'd like you to go check on all\Nthe other animals in the zoo and fix up any
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.44,0:11:58.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,issues with their habitats."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.17,0:12:00.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it just lets you get on with it.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.28,0:12:05.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At this point you're given hardly any guidance,\Nso you have to put into practice what you
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.00,0:12:09.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just learned - and do some critical thinking\Nto fill in the gaps in your knowledge.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.46,0:12:10.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,NANCY: "Right!
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.52,0:12:14.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm off for a cuppa while you make sure all\Nthe animals are well looked after!"
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.81,0:12:18.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I found this really effective, and it happens\Nthroughout the tutorial.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.55,0:12:23.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're put into zoos with specific problems,\Nshown how to fix one of them, and then you're
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.02,0:12:25.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,asked to solve the rest on your own.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.63,0:12:30.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Offworld Trading Company is another good example\N- in each step of the tutorial you are given
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.69,0:12:34.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a list of objectives and have to solve them\Nfor yourself.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.17,0:12:38.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simply by removing the “click here” arrow\Nand making the player find the right option
Dialogue: 0,0:12:38.46,0:12:41.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,themselves is enough to make them feel engaged.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.61,0:12:45.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it feels like you're actually playing\Na game, right from the word go.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.47,0:12:49.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I won't pretend that this is a perfect\Nsolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:49.35,0:12:51.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's because of feedback.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.75,0:12:56.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we learn kinaesthetically, we use feedback\Nto see if we did it right or wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.81,0:13:00.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, if you make a mistake in an action game\Nyou’ll see that immediately.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:00.61,0:13:05.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, in a strategy game, if you don’t balance\Nyour economy correctly you might not realise
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.58,0:13:07.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for many hours.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.47,0:13:12.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Complex games typically have a very slow feedback\Ncycle, which does make it hard to learn from
Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.68,0:13:14.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hands-on experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.45,0:13:19.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You may need to play an entire campaign to\Nunderstand how decisions and strategies will
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.29,0:13:21.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,unfold over the whole game.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.24,0:13:25.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which is why the easiest games to learn are\Nthose with short campaigns that you can repeat
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.88,0:13:29.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,often - compared to those that last hours\Nand hours.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.11,0:13:31.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there are some potential solutions to\Nthis.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.58,0:13:36.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps the quick game in Civilization, which\Ndramatically speeds up the campaign, could
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.17,0:13:38.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,be rebranded as a training tool?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.71,0:13:43.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another answer is for these tutorials to use\Nadvisor characters who can warn you if you're
Dialogue: 0,0:13:43.22,0:13:46.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doing something dumb that might have a negative\Neffect down the line.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.80,0:13:51.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Offworld I got told off for selling\Naluminium for less than $10 a pop,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.31,0:13:54.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and got a lesson in how the stock\Nmarket works.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.70,0:13:59.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The nice thing is: these two solutions also\Nhelp with another problem that strategy game
Dialogue: 0,0:13:59.45,0:14:00.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tutorials face.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.91,0:14:05.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which is this: it's pretty teach to people\Nhow to do things - but it's much harder to
Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.36,0:14:08.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,explain why to do them.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.29,0:14:12.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can tell you which buttons to press to build\Nsomething in Civilization, but there's no
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.32,0:14:16.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simple way to explain what you should build,\Nor when you should build it, or where you
Dialogue: 0,0:14:16.77,0:14:18.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,should place it after it's built.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.60,0:14:23.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So - like before, speeding up the feedback\Ncycle allows players to see the consequences
Dialogue: 0,0:14:23.47,0:14:26.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of those choices for themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:26.00,0:14:29.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And advisor characters can offer recommendations\Nand warnings.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:29.21,0:14:32.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ECONOMIC ADVISOR: "I think we have enough\Nworkers for the moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.81,0:14:37.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You may want to construct something else in your\Ncity".
Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.96,0:14:41.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's one more thing that games do, that\Nmake them easier to learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:41.25,0:14:45.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's leveraging things that people are\Nalready familiar with.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.23,0:14:48.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know: spikes hurt, ice is slippery.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:48.07,0:14:50.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Coins let you buy things, keys open locks.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:50.76,0:14:53.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Skulls mean danger, and so on.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:53.50,0:14:57.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plants vs Zombies doesn't need to tell you\Nthat a zombie with a metal bucket on its head
Dialogue: 0,0:14:57.89,0:15:00.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is more resilient than one with a plastic\Ncone.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.52,0:15:03.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know how these materials work in real life.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:03.26,0:15:08.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By leaning on stuff that players already know,\Ngames can feel intuitive to play - and it
Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.75,0:15:12.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,often means they don't require a tutorial\Nat all.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.40,0:15:18.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now over in the world of complex games - one\Nway to do this is to use a theme that is grounded
Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.22,0:15:19.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or historical.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:19.50,0:15:23.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Civilisation is definitely a franchise that\Nuses this to its advantage.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:23.63,0:15:28.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People can bring their own knowledge of history\Nto make assumptions about how things will work.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:28.41,0:15:30.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most of the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:30.28,0:15:35.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But perhaps the best place for complex games\Nto look for real world inspiration is in the
Dialogue: 0,0:15:35.15,0:15:38.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,user interfaces we encounter every day.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.09,0:15:44.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just like how Reigns copies the swipe left,\Nswipe right interaction from dating apps like Tinder.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:44.23,0:15:48.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And how Disco Elysium's dialogue boxes are\Ninspired by a Twitter feed.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:48.68,0:15:53.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let's see all this in action and go back\Nto that bit in Planet Zoo where I was left
Dialogue: 0,0:15:53.03,0:15:55.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to improve the animals' welfare on my own.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:55.79,0:15:57.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How did I know what to do?
Dialogue: 0,0:15:57.22,0:16:02.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I know that I can sort this list by\Nwelfare by clicking up here... because thats
Dialogue: 0,0:16:02.55,0:16:05.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how a list works on most websites.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:05.15,0:16:10.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I know I can click this to find the animal\Nbecause the same icon is used on Google Maps.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:10.79,0:16:16.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can easily see where the problem lies, because\Nred indicates bad and green indicates good.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:16.79,0:16:21.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know how to filter the items because the\Nfunnel icon is used on apps like Google Sheets
Dialogue: 0,0:16:21.85,0:16:27.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- though I could probably make some assumptions\Nfor what an animal wants just by my knowledge
Dialogue: 0,0:16:27.34,0:16:29.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of real-world critters.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:29.88,0:16:33.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the flip side, here's an example of this\Ngoing very wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:33.69,0:16:39.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In playtests for Total War: Troy, some players\Nreally struggled to find the end turn button.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:39.88,0:16:44.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One player spent 40 minutes on the first turn,\Nunsure how to move on.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:44.24,0:16:45.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The culprit?
Dialogue: 0,0:16:45.24,0:16:50.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This button, which uses an hourglass to indicate\N"end turn".
Dialogue: 0,0:16:50.09,0:16:53.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, people who have been playing strategy\Ngames for years might associate an hourglass
Dialogue: 0,0:16:53.97,0:16:58.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with ending a turn - but I think most people\Nhave a stronger association with something
Dialogue: 0,0:16:58.26,0:17:02.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,loading, including the cursor in old versions\Nof Windows.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:02.37,0:17:06.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By the way, these loading animations are called\N"Throbbers" and I'm really sorry to be the
Dialogue: 0,0:17:06.70,0:17:08.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one to have to tell you this.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:08.36,0:17:11.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anyway - the devs swapped it for an arrow\Nbefore launch.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:11.54,0:17:14.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think we can take two lessons from this.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:14.01,0:17:17.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One: don't assume your audience has played\Nother games.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:17.93,0:17:21.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And two: play test your tutorials.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:21.09,0:17:23.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like, a lot.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:23.99,0:17:28.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there are a few more techniques I want\Nto touch on before I wrap up.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:28.92,0:17:34.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We all know the idiom "show, don't tell" - and\Nit applies to tutorial design too.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:34.27,0:17:38.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Massive walls of text can be hard to get through\N- and an image or video can sometimes tell
Dialogue: 0,0:17:38.59,0:17:41.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you the same information in half the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:41.42,0:17:45.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Take these preview windows for weapons in\NInto the Breach.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:45.24,0:17:49.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Designer Justin Ma said “You could type\Nout a hundred times, ‘Damages a tile and
Dialogue: 0,0:17:49.54,0:17:54.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pushes adjacent tiles,’ but showing that\Nlittle animation of them moving is a thousand
Dialogue: 0,0:17:54.31,0:17:55.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,times more effective".
Dialogue: 0,0:17:55.58,0:18:00.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, sure - text is almost always necessary\Nin the tutorial for a complex game.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:00.68,0:18:06.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But designers should try to cut down words,\Nbe consistent with language, avoid jargon,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:06.07,0:18:10.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and… maybe this is just a personal preference…\Nbut I don’t really like this thing where
Dialogue: 0,0:18:10.26,0:18:15.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some pointless flavour text is spoken by a\Nvoice actor but the actual important stuff
Dialogue: 0,0:18:15.41,0:18:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is left unsaid.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:16.46,0:18:20.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,HOMER: "March north-west, towards the land\Nof Corinth.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:20.58,0:18:25.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For even now, the Corinthians plot your demise".
Dialogue: 0,0:18:25.12,0:18:28.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another good technique is to provide ways\Nfor players to find information when they
Dialogue: 0,0:18:28.90,0:18:29.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,get stuck.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:29.94,0:18:33.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Things like tool tips - and tool tips within\Ntool tips.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:33.56,0:18:39.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An encyclopaedia of terms and the ability\Nto rewind or replay specific bits of the tutorial.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:39.61,0:18:44.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ultimately, if someone gets stuck you don't\Nwant their only solution to be Google.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:44.25,0:18:49.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plus, this should give you more confidence\Nto let players figure stuff out on their own,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:49.41,0:18:51.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the information will be there if they need\Nit.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:51.98,0:18:55.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And finally, it's good to remember that people\Nlearn in different ways.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:55.91,0:19:01.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I won't deny that some of the ideas in this\Nvideo are biased by the fact that I am personally
Dialogue: 0,0:19:01.47,0:19:03.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a very kinaesthetic and visual learner.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:03.99,0:19:06.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I have the attention span of a six year\Nold child.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:06.91,0:19:09.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So providing multiple avenues can be good.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:09.75,0:19:14.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Offworld, for example, has two ways to learn\N- scripted tutorials that walk you through
Dialogue: 0,0:19:14.43,0:19:18.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,each step, and practice challenges where you\Ncan learn through trial-and-error.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:18.27,0:19:24.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Meanwhile, Total War is always good at providing\Ndifferent tutorials for complete newbies and
Dialogue: 0,0:19:24.48,0:19:29.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,returning players who just want to figure\Nout the new stuff.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:29.30,0:19:35.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just like with the user interface in the last\Nepisode of GMTK, the tutorial can be one of
Dialogue: 0,0:19:35.26,0:19:39.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those things that's undervalued, and left\Nuntil the last moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:39.45,0:19:46.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, again: it shouldn't ignored because a\Ntutorial can be so important to a game's success.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:46.55,0:19:51.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For this video I spoke to developers at places\Nlike Paradox and Creative Assembly and everyone
Dialogue: 0,0:19:51.81,0:19:56.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,told me the same thing: teaching new people\Nhow to play is the only way for a franchise
Dialogue: 0,0:19:56.95,0:20:01.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to grow its fanbase - and avoid withering\Ninto irrelevance.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:01.17,0:20:06.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this video, I've identified some techniques\Nthat I think could make tutorials better:
Dialogue: 0,0:20:06.49,0:20:13.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finding ways to break the tutorial up - either\Nacross a campaign, or across multiple campaigns.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:13.24,0:20:17.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finding ways to have the player get their\Nhands on the system and learn by doing, rather
Dialogue: 0,0:20:17.100,0:20:19.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than reading.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:19.24,0:20:23.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And finding ways to be intuitive, familiar,\Nand welcoming.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:23.80,0:20:29.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thankfully, strides are being made in this\Narea, with more thoughtful tutorials and more
Dialogue: 0,0:20:29.22,0:20:30.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,intuitive interfaces.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:30.94,0:20:33.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there's still a lot of work to be done.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:33.58,0:20:38.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Until I can get through the Crusader Kings\Ntutorial without falling asleep, we're not
Dialogue: 0,0:20:38.32,0:20:39.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,quite there.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:39.32,0:20:40.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thanks for watching.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:40.59,0:20:44.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you like what you just saw and want to\Nshow your appreciation, please check out this
Dialogue: 0,0:20:44.22,0:20:46.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,quick YouTube ad break.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:46.03,0:20:47.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Stick around afterwards for an indie game\Nrecommendation.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:51.48,0:20:58.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My recommendation this time is Narita Boy\N- a trippy, retro-tinged brawler with a killer
Dialogue: 0,0:20:58.32,0:21:00.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pixel art aesthetic.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:00.34,0:21:06.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a minor Metroidvania with a bigger focus\Non fight scenes: which reminds me of Guacamelee.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:06.47,0:21:11.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the strange, esoteric plot makes me think\Nof Sword & Sworcery.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:11.76,0:21:16.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The game's not without its problems - including\Na floaty jump and simplistic level design
Dialogue: 0,0:21:16.03,0:21:20.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- but I just found the whole thing enchanting\Nand utterly engrossing.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:20.87,0:21:25.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nartia Boy's on everything - including Xbox\NGame Pass.